just as grandma's cookie jar should always be full of good things, this blog will be full of good ideas, information, activities and reviews of things to help grandma . . . and grandpa, mom and dad too . . . pass on a heritage of faith to the children in their lives!

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Today I want to share a few thoughts about Christmas. While it is the time of the year when we tend to be more joyful, more merry . . . at least, many of us are, it can also be a very sad time of year for some of us, our neighbors or children who go to school with our grandchildren if they are experiencing difficult times in their families. Along with helping our grandchildren worship and celebrate the birth of Jesus, we need to also help them learn how to be on the watch for those children and families who may need our help. Watch for . . .

Monday, December 17, 2018

As grandma, there isn’t anything more important to me than for my grandsons to grow to be men who know and love Jesus. This world at times is a scary place; it seems evil is laughed at, discounted and accepted like it has not been before . . . at least in my lifetime. As I think about the things I want to pray for my grandsons, I think about the things Jesus prayed for His disciples, and for all of us, recorded in John 17.

Jesus prayed His disciples would be protected by the power of God’s name, so none of them would be lost He did not ask God to take them out of the world, but to protect them from the evil one, so they – and we – will have unity and the world will believe.

I believe there is good reason to pray these same things for my grandsons; and this is my prayer based on John 17:6-21 . . .

When you think about loving your grandchildren, for most of us, this comes very easily. The hugs, snuggles, “I love yous”, the laughing and the time spent together – all part of the wonderful love between grandparents and grandchildren.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There is a wonderful love between parents and children, too, but I describe the difference in the following way. When children first see their parents at the start of their day, they may say, “hello” or “good morning” and they may not. But, when grandchildren first see you – at least when they are young – no matter where you are – they shout at the tops of their voices, “Grandma!!!” and run to you as fast as their little legs can carry them, shouting all the while, “Grandma!!!!”

Sunday, December 16, 2018

"Peace" is a word we tend to see and hear around this time of year; particularly on Christmas cards and in Christmas carols. Peace is something we all certainly want to experience in our country and world, at Christmas and all year long.

With Christmas just around the corner, I have an idea you may use which is simple, inexpensive and fun to make . . . and one which your grandchildren could make and give to their parents as a gift . . . a Popsicle Nativity!

Saturday, December 15, 2018

For the past couple years, we have been having Candy Cane Hunts at this grandma's house. They are always a lot of fun and tomorrow is our day to do it again this year. If you have not tried it yet, consider doing so this year; and if you are new to grandma's cookie jar - this is an idea which is "tradition worthy" as a candy cane hunt with the children you love is something they will never forget.

Friday, December 14, 2018

I am happy to say Jennifer McLeod is the winner of Owls are Good at Keeping Secrets: An Unusual Alphabet- you will find the review at this link. Thank you Jennifer for reading grandma's cookie jar, please email me by December 21, 2018, so I am able to have the book sent to you. And thank you Random House Books for Young Readersfor sending one for me to review and for making another available for me to give away.

Thursday, December 13, 2018

We grandmas (grandpas/parents) know God has clearly asked us to hand down the faith. This is our God-given job and great joy. (See Psalm 78:4, 6, 7)If we could receive anything as a gift this year, at the top of our list would absolutely be to have the ones we love make the choice to know, love and walk with God. Well, we can not make the ones we love choose to do this, but we also do not have to leave it to chance for them to know, love and walk with God.

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

On my other blog - Grandmas with Heart - I shared a fun "Mystery Bag" project which I think you would enjoy as well. I wrote -Today's "Mystery Bag" has the items you need to start a family tradition, help you focus your grandchildren both on why we celebrate Christmas and why Jesus came and provides the opportunity for them to give to others . . . a lot for one "Mystery Bag" for sure!

I am happy to say Karen is the winner of Around the World in 80 Puzzles. (You will find all the details at thislink.) Thank you for reading grandma's cookie jar (please message me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by December 14, 2018, so I am able to have it sent to you) and thank you Candlewick Press for sending one for me to review and for making another available for me to give away.

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

With Christmas just two weeks away, we have been busy selecting gifts for the ones we love - and if you are like me, looking for the best buys. If you are looking for something which you could give to your family to help them all grow in their walk with God, consider Generations Quest! For just $10 you will receive an entire year of Bible readings, questions to get your family talking and activities to help you all understand the Bible and grow in your walk with God. Talk about a great buy!

The person who won Around the World in 80 Puzzles. (You will find all the details at thislink) did not claim their prize, so I am holding a second-chance drawing to give it away. This is such a fun and unique book - whoever wins it will be happy they did. So, please comment below to enter. If you share this post, you will receive an additional entry. The drawing will be tomorrow - December 12, 2018, so if you would like to win - enter . . . and check back tomorrow!

I have been working on a resource to use with my grandsons to hand down the faith. I am not able to make them choose to love, know and walk with God, but I am able to engage them in reading/understanding God's Word and in watching for God's Great Deeds. If I do these two things, then they will be equipped to walk with God.Throughout the Bible we read where God has promised His Word will accomplish what He has planned for it to do (Isaiah 55:11), is profitable for teaching (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) and is a light to our path (Psalm 119:11); just to mention three things we know are true about the Bible. God promises His words are powerful, so I want my grandsons to know what God's Word says.

Friday, December 7, 2018

I was recently invited to review a new ABC book - I know, there is no shortage of ABC books on the market, but this one combines letters with fun animals. My grandsons have always loved animals, so I know they would have loved an ABC book combined with animals to help them with their ABCs when they were learning them. So, today I'm happy to let you know about Owls are Good at Keeping Secrets: An Unusual Alphabet, and announce a giveaway as well.

Yesterday on my other blog - Grandmas with Heart - I wrote about how grandmas make a big difference in the lives of their grandchildren. I wrote . . . "The love we have for our grandchildren is a truly powerful love - it makes a lasting and vital impact upon a child to be loved by a grandma with all her heart!"

Thursday, December 6, 2018

It is very easy at Christmas for our grandchildren to become distracted by all the lights, special events and gifts and forget why we celebrate Christmas. So, to help keep the focus on Jesus, consider having your grandchildren (children) make some of these wonderful Nativity crafts I found on Pinterest. (You will find them at this link.)

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

I firmly believe every day you spend with a grandchild is a day filled with the best "gift" of all - time with a grandchild. With Christmas just 20 days away, I thought it would be fun to share a simple projects you might have your grandchildren work on, so they may give them to their parents this year. I found this on Pinterest!

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

On my other blog - Grandmas with Heart - I shared a new free snail-mail Christmas card - so I thought I'd share it with you today, too! I said;In this day of email, facetime and google connect, there is no shortage of ways to connect with our grandchildren. But, they still tend to love to receive snail mail which is actually for them - especially at Christmas. Yes, old-fashioned snail mail is a wonderful way to stay in touch with our grandchildren - no matter their age or where they live.

Monday, December 3, 2018

When we think about the gifts we plan to give thepeople in our family for Christmas - or a birthday - we tend to think about a gift we will purchase. While there is certainly nothing wrong with purchasing a gift, think this year about giving a gift you make to those on your list.

Sunday, December 2, 2018

I am happy to say Pookiecat123 is the winner of The Illustrated Word: An Illuminated Bible ColoringJournal. (You will find all the details at thislink.) Thank you for reading grandma's cookie jar (please message me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by December 9, 2018, so I am able to send it to you) and thank you Ellie Claire for sending one for me to review and for making another available for me to give away.

Saturday, December 1, 2018

I am happy to say Alicia Anne is the winner of Mickey The True Original Collector's Chess Set. (You will find all the details at thislink.) Thank you for reading grandma's cookie jar (please message me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by December 8, 2018, so I am able to have it sent to you) and thank you USAopoly for sending one for me to review and for making another available for me to give away.

Million Praying Grandparents

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About the Author

I am a grandma whose heart has been "stolen" by my three grandsons - I love everything about being "grandma"! To see more about me, check the "about grandma" tab at the top!

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The FTC requires people, such as myself, who write blogs and review product to disclose where the product came from and if it was given to them for review purposes. All curriculum, resources, items for my "Grandma's Pick" and items I review for specific posts/articles are given to me by their publisher and/or manufacturer for free for review and/or give-away purposes. I do not work for any publishers - or other companies - and will do my best to give an un-biased review of the items I review. After my review, I give most of the curriculum to churches to use in their ministries and have drawings among the people who have "liked" and or "followed" my blog with the facebook and follow buttons on the blog for the "Grandma's Pick" give-away items. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising"